Valve bag closure means



Dec. 22, 1964 M. FRANKEL VALVE BAG CLOSURE MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1965 INVENTOR BY Maw,

ATTORNEYS "mm Hank] M. FRANKEL VALVE BAG CLOSURE MEANS Dec. 22, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1963 Mrwin Frankel INVENTOR MM BY ed f 1 E ATTORNEYS Dec. 1964 M. FRANKEL VALVE BAG CLOSURE MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1963 Alert-via Frankel wvsmon ATTORNEYS materials in dry form.

- 1 United States Patent Ofiice 3,162,354 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 The present invention relates to valve bags, and more particularly to closure means for valve bags which comprises a bendable transversely extending metal strip secured to the edge of the valve opening which is adapted to be bent around the edges of the valve when the valve has been folded over to close it.

' So called valve bags are multi-ply paper bags which are sealed at both ends, for example by being folded over and sealed or by being sewn, but which have a filling valve therein in the form of a tube which extends through the top of the bag under the folded over or sewn end and through which the material forming the contents of the bag is inserted into the bag.

The industry has long recognized that there is a problem in folding these tubes up and tucking them under the top of the bag after filling of the bag has been completed so that the contents of the bag will not leak out through the tube. After the bags has been filled, and thereafter has been upended during stacking the contents of the bag press against the top of the bag and hold the folded under tube in the folded condition. However, after the bag has been further handled and transported, the contents tend there can be exercised little or no quality control in the closing of this type of bag.

A further problem has been the spilling of small amounts of material which are often left in the tubes themselves at the end of the filling operation.

It is difficult to fold the tubes so that such material will not eventually be shaken out of the tube during handling and transportation. Where the contents of the bags are harmless, such as sugar, flour, seed, or the like, such leakage presents only minor problems. Even where the material is likely to be corrosive, such as lime, the problem is a relatively minor one.

However, problems of leakage, both of the material left in the tube during filling and material Which leaks out of the interior of the bag after it has been filled, become especially acute when such bags are used for poisonous In the light of the increasing demand for insecticides, herbicides, pesticides etc. in dry l form so that they can be easily spread or dispersed, it has become increasingly important to provide bags from- Which none of the contents will escape, since the materials are often extremely toxic and the escape of even small amounts could be dangerous.

. It,is therefore an object of the present invention to coming untucked when the bag is handled.

'7 f," It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve I bag closure which closes the valve tube in such a manner that the proper folding of the valve tube is facilitated.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a valve bag closure which in addition to closing the valve tube of the bag securely and facilitating the closure of the tube and preventing the valve tube from becoming untucked, also makes it easier to tuck the folded tube under the top of the bag and makes it more difiicult to fold the tube and tuck it under imperfectly than to fold and tuck it imperfectly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve bag closure which will permit the valve tube to be unfolded to check the correctness of the fold and the seal, yet which will not have the closure itself disturbed by this inspection, and which allows the tube to be refolded in the same way as originally folded, if such folding is correct, or refolded correctly if the original folding is improper, also without disturbing the closure, thereby permitting close and rigid quality control of the closed bags.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a valve bag with a closure means according to the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the valve tube of the valve bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a sectional view taken on line 2b-2b of FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 3-6 are perspective views similar to FIG. 1 showing the steps of folding and tucking the valve tube of the valve bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2b of a modified form of the tube and bendable strip;

FIGS. 840 are views of modified forms of the bendable strip;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a different type of valve bag from the valve bag shown in FIG. 1 with a closure means according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 12-15 are perspective views similar to FIG. 11 showing the steps of folding and tucking the valve tube of the valve bag of FIG. 11.

As seen in FIG. 1, a multi-ply paper bag has inward folds 11 in the top portion of the narrow end panels, and the top portions of the side panels have been folded over the inwardly folded narrow end panels to form an inner top panel 12 and an outer top panel 13 which are glued or otherwise secured firmly to the inwardly folded narrow end panels to form the top of the bag 10 and so as to leave a pocket between the top of one end panel and the top panels.

Extending beneath the edges of the panels 12 and 13 and into the interior of the bag is a fiattenable tube 14 of paper or the like, which tube preferably projects beyond one of the narrow end panels of the bag. In order to fill the bag, a spout or the like is inserted into this tube and the material is poured through the spout and the tube 14i'nto-the bag.

In a preferred embodiment, the 'flattenable tube 14, as more clearly seen in FIGS. .2a and 2b, has an upper wall 14a and a lower wall 14b joined to each other at the longitudinal edges thereof to enclosethe space'within the tube. The end of the lower Wall 14b has an extension 15 thereon in which is enclosed a strip 15a of soft bendable material which will remain in the bent condition after it has been bent. Soft metal is quite suitable for this strip 15a; The ends 15b of the strip 15a extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the tube 14 and beyond the sides of the bag 10, and the width of the lower wall 14b which encloses the strip 15a is increased at this point to cover the entire length of the strip 15a. T

To close the bag, after the filling spout has been with drawn from the tube, the tube is flattened and thestrip 15a is bent upwardly and back over the flattened tube at least once, and when it is folded only once the fold takes" sight whenfthe tuck thus properly made.

*and the tuck-can easilyb'e properlyrnadeplace along the fold line 16 running along the end of the tubebetwe'enjthe tubeiand the strip a, as shown in FIG. 3. The: tube is then 'folded upwardly and back" over against itself along the fold line 17 spaced inwardly from the end of the tube, as seen in FIG. '4. At this point the strip Will lie against the top wall 14d of the tube with the ends 1512 of the strip extending-out over the edges'of the tube. The ends 15bl-of the strip are then bent downwardly and under the tube-and pressed'against-the bottom wall p It-will' 'be seen-at this pointthat' when the-strip; 15a

is first folded over against the top Wall ofthe tube, this closesthe end 'of the tube so that any material'left in the tubewhen the filling spout is withdrawn must pass at least one =fold-before'it-can leak outof the tube. After the fold along the line'l'jflhere areat'least two folds-Which 7 V 4 clear that not only has the tuck not been properly made, but the folding of the tube has likewise not beenproperly.

carried out. I

The strip 15a, which has been shown as being on the lower-Wall 14b can of course be secured in like, manner to the top wall 14a, in which case the first fold'along the line leandthe second fold along line 17 will be more easily made in a downward direction. Howeven'the two folds will still be present in the tube, and the advantages of the structure as set forth above rwill be the same.

Likewise, other ways of securing the strip 15a to'the tube will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

' For example, the strip 15a could be Wrapped in a septhe inateriahwithin the b'a g-must pass' before it; canleak v out. When'the,ends15b are'bentaround the edges: ofth tube, thisinsu'resthatthe two folds are, held duringZany further folding .o'r other"rnanipulating of the tube. In

arate piece of material and afiap' of this *rna'terial glued or otherwise 'secured'to the material of thetube. The

strip l'ea could ;be glued directly toan extension of one fwall of the tube, as shoWninFIGL 8. Alternatelynt coud bestapled to an extension off-one wall of the tube ,by staples 19, as shown in FIG. 9.'- 1

addition, "it .will 'be seen that by bending the-ends 15b around the tube at a point 'spaced'inwardly from theend thereof, a substantiallyrigidmember, at least a member more rigidthanthe paper tube, is positioned across the tube substantially midway of its length fromvthe'point Where it goes under the fiaps12 and 13 to the'outer end thereof. This helps insure that; the tube will stay flat dur-.

ls-"The "material in which the -strip 15a is wrapped need not bewthe same as thatof the tube. 'It could be wrapped in Pape p stic; a women fabric or other suitabl r terial. V I, V

' Likewise, while the' flat shape of the flexible strip-fia 1 example, it could be a bendable-"wire having .a round ing further-folding and tucking, and thus helps preclude the formation ofwrinkles in the tube through Whichmaterial may leak out of'the bag.

The final step in closing. the tube only one further fold is used, it takes place downwardly and under about a fold line 18 whichpreferably lies ad jacent the bases of the'fiaps "12 and 13," Infolding theffree wardly folded portion of the narrow'endpanel and-the V is to fold the free end of thepar'tially folded tube at least once, and Where l the-strip 15a' is' secured to the outside of the lower tube .is :the preferred form, it could have other'shapes. For

cross section, as shown in FIG. 10 at 20. V

The strip can also bersecured totheoutside of the end of the tube -14 with the edge -'of the strip along the end "of the-tube,.as seenin FIG. 7. Thefw'rapping :15 for wall. However, it will also be appreciated that the Inal teri'al ofthe wallcould also s'erve as-the' wrapping by heendofthe tube under, it will be tucked between thein;

end of the tube extending into the bag, where it willbe held by the pressure of the contents of the bag'against the top of the bag.- The .ends 15b0f-the strip will pewter At thispointfit Willfbe observed that mater alfwithby the bentover ends '15b-of the strip 15a, and the fold ,along line 18 which=is held by the tuckedend itselfrbeing held underthe top of the bag, ,It is therefore virtually;

impossiblefor-thematerialinethe'bag to-leak out;

The'endsof the strip :15a'servea double 'purpose injthe '5 present invention, that of-securely sealirigthe-tube when they areprOPfirly bent-aroundthe tube, and that of obi- 'in the bag must pass at least three tight folds in order to leak .out,-the folds along lines 16 and 17 which-are held structing tucking of the tube when they are-improperly". i

- bent aro undthe tube. I The former; purpose Twill-be ap-- preciated from 'what has already ben descrihedf f The latter purpose will :beappre'ciated' when it 'is' considered" thatbecause the ends 'lsb' extendbeyond the side'panels of the-bag, 'it'will be ,diflitiulhhlthough,not impossible, to I 'forceithe en-d of the tube under the panels 12f-andi13 when the ends-15b are not bent aroundthe tube at all',;o1 ifion ly -..'one"of,them' isbent 'around theitubegzsothat the tube-can 'be tucked under'only{withinore difiicultytha'n'if the ends 1 7 15am 'properly bent Even if both fendsfiSb are only partially :bent around "the'tube, but are not pressed against thezwall'of the'tubeQ they .will'standaway' from the tulje and'the't'ube still cannot'be tuckedundereasily. ;Thus,; properly beht ver-moth the folds" when 'the" strip 15d is I '..-Further, a visual inspection in Whichfthe tube ,is unffoldedf "quickly show Whether 'thei tuck is" properly.

a'de, ,will also sei veto indicate thatth'e' foldand bending I *ofthe cnds 1'5bis proper, although-thefold of ,the;,strip- 15 I hl'dfthe bent ends need not be dis'turbedafOnt the: other 15530 be visible before the tubeis ui'ituck d,- if a casual' visual inspection; shows; one o'r ing bent downwardly and rearwardly from'the end of the tube or being a multiple wall. Themann'erof folding and tucking the tube is 'the'same with the modified strucpture'of FIG. 17 as with-theembodiment'of the-other figures, except-that the firstifoldof the strip over-the end of the tube also foldsalengthrof the tube equal to the width ofthe strip. 1 I

In the embodiment as described "above, the valve bag has fa 'topfwhich is folded over'and glued,-and the tube projects 'from fbeneath the folded over top. The inven- 1 tion is also applicable to :the so-called sewn bags in which the tops "of the side-and 'endpanels are merely brought together and a jstitching'fplaced alongthe "tops .ithereof; 'Such'a bag' with .a valve tube and Ja closure [according to I r As'seen inSF I G. ll, one ofthe narrow side walls 23 is 'f oldeld'inwardly and dow'nwardly'along one top'corner 25 to 'leave'ani outwardly projecting fold 2,4. *Theyfront and ftop thereofand areinforcing stripj2'6 is placed over the stitchingi-orthe stitching may be'ov'er the reinforcing strip.

2 A flattenable tube 2 8;;- exterids "intoihe bag through the vinwardly foldedcorner and, is secured to the inrierled'ges i of the fold-in a manner: not sh'own sozas' to seal ithe. inner end of 't heltube'to the bag The stitching27 and reinf forcing Fstr'ip may, 'ifor -convenience,in the manufacture "ofth Cnonejoutside facetof'the tube .28 at the end thereof bag;extend.alongizthe top edge of the tube 28.

a bendable strip of -rn aterial"29 with the 'ends a the reef'projecting'beyond: the 'e'dges of the tube .23; in the gmann rin whichthe strip 15q is positioned relative to the tub in he'embodirnent of.FlGS.jl 61andFIG.7. The

fstrip 29 mayalsoibe in the forrn'shownihFIGSJS-l 0.

Thejrnanner'of foldingithe strip 129"QVQI thefend of 1 h "t bazsa d h n ld and'mqki h 6. 8 is substantiallythe same as for the ernbodimentof-FIGS.

exceptzthat'since'the tube is in'the verticalposjition when ;it I isffolde d 'fla't," the ffolds 'arei performed aboutyertical 1ines.;- Thus, as seenii'rfEIG."12 the 'strip2 thepresentf'invention is shown in FIGS.

next step, as shown in FIG. 14 is to bend the ends of the strip 29 around the edges of the tube 28, and then the final fold or folds are taken, as shown in FIG. 15, to tuck the closed tube into the top of the bag.

Despite the fact that the tube 29 is vertical when it is folded fiat, the closure will have all of the advantages which are discussed above with respect to the form shown in FIGS. 16.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination, a bag having side and end panels with the side panels brought together at the top, stitching along the top of the bag for securing the side panels together, a flattenable tuck Valve tube extending out of one of the end panels of the bag adjacent to the top of the bag and having the upper edge of the fiattenable tube sewn to the side panels by the said stitching, the inner end of the tube being secured to said end panel from which it projects, a strip of soft bendable material which will remain in the bent condition after it has been bent secured to the outer end of said tube and extending transversely of the end of the tube with one edge extending along the end of the tube, said strip extending beyond the longitudinal edges of the tube, whereby when the strip is folded over the end of the tube and back against the tube for flattening the tube and the tube is folded back against itself at least once for closing the bag, the ends of the bendable strip must be bent around the edges of the flattened tube for holding the folded over end against the tube before the folded tube can be tucked into the bag so that a secure closure of the tube is insured when the folded tube is tucked into the bag.

2. In combination, a bag having side and end panels, and having top panels at the upper ends of said side panels folded over on each other and secured to each other, said side panels, top panels and one end panel defining a pocket at the top of said one end panel, a fiattenable tuck valve tube extending out of the bag from beneath the folded over top panels and through said pocket, the lateral dimension of the tube in the flattened condition being substantially equal to the spacing of said tops of said side panels when the bag is in the filled condition, a strip of soft bendable material which will remain in the bent condition after it has been bent secured to the outer end of said tube and extending transversely of the end of the tube with one edge extending along the end of the tube, said strip extending beyond the longitudinal edges of the tube and beyond the spaced side panels of the bag at the top of the bag when the bag is in the filled condition and the strip is in the unbent condition, whereby when the strip is folded over the end of the tube and back against the tube for flattening the tube and the tube is folded back against itself at least once for closing the bag, the ends of the bendable strip must be bent around the edges of the flattened tube for holding the folded over end against the tube before the folded tube can be tucked into the pocket so that a secure closure of the tube is insured when the folded tube is tucked into the pocket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,368 8/01 Shattuck 229- X 1,719,347 7/29 Weinstein 229-65 1,782,738 11/30 Martin 229-62.5 1,993,377 3/35 McNulty 22965 X 2,030,634 2/36 Holloway 229-65 X 2,071,745 2/37 Higginbottom 229-65 X 2,089,670 8/37 Snyder 229-65 X 2,103,840 12/37 Bauer 229-65 2,303,296 11/42 Avery 22965 X 2,620,121 12/52 Johnson 229-62.5

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A BAG HAVING SIDE AND END PANELS WITH THE SIDE PANELS BROUGHT TOGETHER AT THE TOP, STITCHING ALONG THE TOP OF THE BAG FOR SECURING THE SIDE PANELS TOGETHER, A FLATTENABLE TUCK VALVE TUBE EXTENDING OUT OF ONE OF THE END PANELS OF THE BAG ADJACENT TO THE TOP OF THE BAG AND HAVING THE UPPER EDGE OF THE FLATTENABLE TUBE SEWN TO THE SIDE PANELS BY THE SAID STITCHING, THE INNER END OF THE TUBE BEING SECURED TO SAID END PANEL FROM WHICH IT PROJECTS, A STRIP OF SOFT BENDABLE MATERIAL WHICH WILL REMAIN IN THE BENT CONDITION AFTER IT HAS BEEN BENT SECURED TO THE OUTER END OF SAID TUBE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE END OF THE TUBE WITH ONE EDGE EXTENDING ALONG THE END OF THE TUBE, SAID STRIP EXTENDING BEYOND THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE TUBE, WHEREBY WHEN THE STRIP IS FOLDED OVER THE END OF THE TUBE AND BACK AGAINST THE TUBE FOR FLATTENING THE TUBE AND THE TUBE IS FOLDED BACK AGAINST ITSELF AT LEAST ONCE FOR CLOSING THE BAG, THE ENDS OF THE BENDABLE STRIP MUST BE BENT AROUND THE EDGES OF THE FLATTENED TUBE FOR HOLDING THE FOLDED OVER END AGAINST THE TUBE BEFORE THE FOLDED TUBE CAN BE TUCKED INTO THE BAG SO THAT A SECURE CLOSURE OF THE TUBE IS INSURED WHEN THE FOLDED TUBE IS TUCKED INTO THE BAG. 